Emma Raducanu was left in floods of tears as her hopes of taking part in within the Australian Open are in critical jeopardy after being pressured to retire injured in Auckland.
The one-time US Open champion was in cruise management towards world No 134 Viktoria Kuzmova, profitable the primary set, however she quickly faltered with a difficulty in her left ankle.
On the finish of the second set, which she misplaced 7-5, Raducanu obtained therapy from the coach, earlier than retiring in tears after another level proved too painful to play on, elevating critical doubts she shall be match for the season-opening Grand Slam in 11 days’ time.
Following her opening 2023 win towards 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova on Monday, there was rising hope that Raducanu may construct type to contend in Melbourne on the Australian Open.
However leaving the courtroom on the ASB Basic in tears suggests she is now fearing for her place within the Slam, with the draw being made every week on Thursday.
Her last level was made on serve however she winced and rapidly signalled that there was no approach she may play in a deciding set, electing as a substitute to retire.
Raducanu got here out in high quality type and was aggressive in her play from the off, racing right into a 6-0 first set lead.
She made simply three unforced errors and had her first serve share up above 70 per cent.
However momentum shifted within the second set when she did not take a sequence of break level alternatives, finally dropping her personal grip on serve to Kuzmova.
This marks the seventh time Raducanu has been pressured to withdraw injured from a match since she broke by onto the WTA Tour.
On her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon in 2021 she retired by respiration difficulties, earlier than happening to retire in the beginning of 2022 on the Abierto Zapopan occasion on account of cramp and fatigue.
From there Raducanu pulled out of matches on the the Italian Open and Nottingham Open on account of a again situation in Italy and a seeming rib situation again in England.
A glute drawback value her a formidable run on the Korea Open earlier than her 2022 season was ended on the Transylvania Open.
Raducanu has labored laborious to attempt to construct up her sturdiness for the gruelling WTA Tour and has all the time vowed she wouldn’t ‘Google physician’ herself.
However the tears that flowed in Auckland recommend a resignation that the Australian Open could come too quickly in simply 11 days’ time till the primary spherical at Melbourne Park.
